40 Common Minerals and Their Uses

1 40 Common Minerals and Their Uses101 Constitution Avenue | Suite 500 East | Washington, DC 20001 | 202. 463. 2667 | most abundant metal element in Earth s crust. Aluminum originates as an oxide called alumina. Bauxite ore is the main source of aluminum and must be imported from Jamaica, Guinea, Brazil, Guyana, etc. Used in transportation (automobiles), packaging, building/construction, electrical, machinery and other uses . The was 100 percent import reliant for its aluminum in native element; antimony metal is extracted from stibnite ore and other Minerals . Used as a hardening alloy for lead, especially storage batteries and cable sheaths; also used in bearing metal, type metal, solder, collapsible tubes and foil, sheet and pipes and semiconductor technology. Antimony is used as a flame retardant, in fireworks , and in antimony salts are used in the rubber, chemical and textile industries, as well as medicine and glassmaking.

2 The was 87 percent import reliant in heavy metal contained in barite. Used as a heavy additive in oil well drilling; in the paper and rubber industries; as a filler or extender in cloth, ink and plastics products; in radiography ( barium milkshake ); as a deoxidizer for copper; a sparkplug in alloys; and in making expensive white composed of hydrated aluminum oxides. In the , it is primarily converted to alumina. See aluminum. The was 100 percent import reliant in in the nuclear industry and to make light, very strong alloys used in the aircraft industry. Beryllium salts are used in fluorescent lamps, in X-ray tubes and as a deoxidizer in bronze metallurgy. Beryl is the gem stones emerald and aquamarine. It is used in computers, telecommunication products, aerospace and defense applications, appliances and automotive and consumer electronics. Also used in medical equipment.

3 The was 10 percent import reliant in consumes about 6 percent of world chromite ore production in various forms of imported materials, such as chromite ore, chromite chemicals, chromium ferroalloys, chromium metal and stainless steel. Used as an alloy and in stainless and heat resisting steel products. Used in chemical and metallurgical industries (chrome fixtures, etc.) Superalloys require chromium. It is produced in South Africa, Kazakhstan and India. The was 70 percent import reliant for chromium in in floor and wall tile as an absorbent, in sanitation, mud drilling, foundry sand bond, iron pelletizing, brick, light weight aggregate and cement. It is produced in 40 states. Ball clay is used in floor and wall tile. Bentonite is used for drilling mud, pet waste absorbent, iron ore pelletizing and foundry sand bond. Kaolin is used for paper coating and filling, refractory products, fiberglass, paint, rubber and catalyst manufacture.

4 Common clay is used in brick, light aggregate and cement. The was not import reliant in Constitution Avenue | Suite 500 East | Washington, DC 20001 | 202. 463. 2667 | primarily in superalloys for aircraft gas turbine engines, in cemented carbides for cutting tools and wear-resistant applications, chemicals (paint dryers, catalysts, magnetic coatings) and permanent magnets. The United States has cobalt resources in Minnesota, Alaska, California, Idaho, Missouri, montana and Oregon. Cobalt production comes principally from Congo, China, Canada, Russia, Australia and Zambia. The was 78 percent import reliant in in building construction, electric and electronic products (cables and wires, switches, plumbing, heating); transportation equipment; roofing; chemical and pharmaceutical machinery; and alloys (brass, bronze and beryllium alloyed with copper are particularly vibration resistant); alloy castings; electroplated protective coatings and undercoats for nickel, chromium, zinc, etc.

5 More recently copper is being used in medical equipment due to its anti-microbial properties. The United States has mines in Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Nevada and montana . Leading producers are Chile, Peru, China, United States and Australia. The was 35 percent import reliant in rock-forming mineral ; industrially important in glass and ceramic industries; patter and enamelware; soaps; bond for abrasive wheels; cements; insulating compositions; fertilizer; tarred roofing materials; and as a sizing, or filler, in textiles and paper. In pottery and glass, feldspar functions as a flux. End- uses for feldspar in the include glass (70 percent) and pottery and other uses (30 percent). The was not import reliant in (fluorspar)Used in production of hydrofluoric acid, which is used in the pottery, ceramics, optical, electroplating and plastics industries; in the metallurgical treatment of bauxite; as a flux in open hearth steel furnaces and in metal smelting; in carbon electrodes; emery wheels; electric arc welders; toothpaste; and paint pigment.

6 It is a key ingredient in the processing of aluminum and uranium. The was 100 percent import reliant in is used in integrated circuits, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), photodetectors and solar cells. It has a new use in chemotherapy for some types of cancer. Integrated circuits are used in defense applications, high performance computers and telecommunications. Optoelectronic devices were used in areas such as aerospace, consumer goods, industrial equipment, medical equipment and telecommunications. Leading sources are Germany, UK, China and Canada. The was 99 percent import reliant in in jewelry and arts; dentistry and medicine; in medallions and coins; in ingots as a store of value; for scientific and electronic instruments; as an electrolyte in the electroplating industry. Mined in Alaska and several western states. Leading producers are China, Australia, United States, Russia and Canada.

7 The was not import reliant in and used as prefabricated wallboard or an industrial or building plaster; used in cement manufacturing; agriculture and other uses . The was 12 percent import reliant in Constitution Avenue | Suite 500 East | Washington, DC 20001 | 202. 463. 2667 | (sodium chloride salt)Used in human and animal diet, food seasoning and food preservation; used to prepare sodium hydroxide, soda ash, caustic soda, hydrochloric acid, chlorine, metallic sodium; used in ceramic glazes; metallurgy, curing of hides; mineral waters; soap manufacturing; home water softeners; highway de-icing; photography; in scientific equipment for optical parts. Single crystals used for spectroscopy, ultraviolet and infrared transmission. The was 19 percent import reliant for salt in tin oxide is used for electrical conductivity purposes in flat panel devices - most commonly in liquid crystal displays (LCDs).

8 It is also used in solders, alloys, compounds, electrical components, semiconductors and research. Indium ore is not recovered from ores in the China is the leading producer. It is also produced in Canada, Japan and Belgium. The was 100 percent import reliant in OreUsed to manufacture steels of various types. Powdered iron: used in metallurgy products; magnets; high-frequency cores; auto parts; catalyst. Radioactive iron (iron 59): in medicine; tracer element in biochemical and metallurgical research. Iron blue: in paints, printing inks, plastics, cosmetics, paper dyeing. Black iron oxide: as pigment; in polishing compounds; metallurgy; medicine; magnetic inks. Most production is from Michigan and Minnesota. China, Australia, Brazil and Russia are the major producers. The was not import reliant in in lead-acid batteries, gasoline additives (now being eliminated) and tanks, and solders, seals or bearing; used in electrical and electronic applications; TV tubes and glass, construction, communications and protective coatings; in ballast or weights; ceramics or crystal glass; X-ray and gamma radiation shielding; soundproofing material in construction industry; and ammunition.

9 Industrial type batteries are used as a source of uninteruptible power equipment for computer and telecommunications networks and mobile power. United States mines lead mainly in Missouri, but also in Alaska and Idaho. The was not import reliant in are used in ceramics and glass; batteries; lubricating greases; air treatment; in primary aluminum production; in the manufacture of lubricants and greases; rocket propellants; vitamin A synthesis; silver solder; batteries; medicine. Lithium ion batteries have become a substitute for nickel-cadmium batteries in hand held/portable electronic devices. There is one brine operation in Nevada. Australia, Chile and China are major producers. The was more than 70 percent reliant for lithium in is essential to iron and steel production. Also used in the making of manganese ferroalloys. Construction, machinery and transportation end uses account for most consumption of manganese.

10 Manganese ore has not been produced in the since 1970. Major producers are South Africa, Australia, China, Gabon and Brazil. The was 100 percent import reliant in commonly occur as flakes, scales or shreds. Ground mica is used in paints, as joint cement, as a dusting agent, in oil well-drilling muds; and in plastics, roofing, rubber and welding rods. Sheet mica is fabricated into parts for electronic and electronic equipment. China and Russia are leading producers. The was 100 percent import reliant in Constitution Avenue | Suite 500 East | Washington, DC 20001 | 202. 463. 2667 | in alloy steels to make automotive parts, construction equipment, gas transmission pipes; stainless steels; tool steels; cast irons; super alloys; and chemicals and lubricants. As a pure metal, molybdenum is used because of its high melting temperatures (4,730 F) as filament supports in light bulbs, metalworking dies and furnace parts.